"When the people you've admired on stage for years listen to your lecture... when you get to step behind the scenes, feel the theater’s magic, and be surrounded by its muses… it’s like a dream!" – this is how Dr. Eglė Lastauskienė, a researcher at Vilnius University Life Sciences Center, describes her experience working with actors. She was invited to consult the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre troupe as they prepared for the premiere of "Fermentacija" – a play about an unusual biological revolution where microorganisms challenge humans.
A Microbiology Lesson on Stage
"Microorganisms have been with us throughout our lives, yet we often perceive them only as threats. But without them, neither we nor many essential processes could exist," explains Prof. Lastauskienė.
Over the past decades, our understanding of microorganisms has significantly evolved. "In the past, people feared them – everything was sterilized, disinfected, and antibiotics were used indiscriminately. Now, we realize that such an approach can have negative consequences. Excessive sterility has been linked to autoimmune diseases and allergies. Instead of trying to eliminate everything around us, we should seek to understand the world we live in. Knowledge reduces fear and allows us to see microorganisms not as enemies but as an integral part of the ecosystem."
This idea – our relationship with the invisible world – is at the core of "Fermentacija." The concept of microorganisms rising against humanity may seem absurd at first glance. Still, according to Dr. Lastauskienė, the play raises a more profound question: how much respect do we have for the environment around us?
"We love dogs and cats but rarely stop to consider that all life forms, including microorganisms, deserve respect. This play invites us to look at them differently, challenging our conventional thinking."
Science and Art – A Natural Connection
Prof. Lastauskienė strongly believes that theater is one of many ways to make science more accessible to the public.
"The more ways we find to talk about science, the less people will fear it. Science is not something mysterious, locked away in laboratories, or incomprehensible. It is part of our daily lives," she says.
Science can become more tangible and relatable through theater, exhibitions, or experimental art forms. "Fermentacija" is yet another example of how scientific ideas can take center stage, prompting audiences to rethink the invisible world around them.
"Fermentacija" – When Bacteria Demand Rights
Directed by Antanas Obcarskas and written by Laurynas Adomaitis, "Fermentacija" invites the audience into an unexpected biological revolution. In a small fermentation studio, good bacteria stop working, products refuse to ferment, and the head fermenter, Danilas, suddenly hears their voices. Tired of exploitation, the microorganisms demand equal rights – and even threaten humanity: "Humans need bacteria, but we don’t need humans."
The premiere will take place on April 11 at the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre’s Grand Hall. Combining experimentation, irony, and philosophical reflections on life forms, the play marks the fourth collaboration between Laurynas Adomaitis and Antanas Obcarskas, their first production on LNDT’s largest stage.
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